Use of geospatial technology for delineating groundwater potential zones with an emphasis on water-table analysis in Dwarka River basin,Birbhum, India

Dwarka River basin in Birbhum, West Bengal (India), is an agriculture-dominated area where groundwater plays a crucial role. The basin experiences seasonal water stress conditions with a scarcity of surface water. In the presented study, delineation of groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) is carried out using a geospatial multi-influencing factor technique. Geology, geomorphology, soil type, land use/land cover, rainfall, lineament and fault density, drainage density, slope, and elevation of the study area were considered for the delineation of GWPZs in the study area. About 9.3, 71.9 and 18.8% of the study area falls within good, moderate and poor groundwater potential zones, respectively. The potential groundwater yield data corroborate the outcome of the model, with maximum yield in the older floodplain and minimum yield in the hard-rock terrains in the western and south-western regions. Validation of the GWPZs using the yield of 148 wells shows very high accuracy of the model prediction, i.e., 89.1% on superimposition and 85.1 and 81.3% on success and prediction rates, respectively. Measurement of the seasonal water-table fluctuation with a multiplicative model of time series for predicting the short-term trend of the water table, followed by chi-square analysis between the predicted and observed water-table depth, indicates a trend of falling groundwater levels, with a 5% level of significance and a p-value of 0.233. The rainfall pattern for the last 3 years of the study shows a moderately positive correlation (R ² = 0.308) with the average water-table depth in the study area.     

Cancer risk estimation from dietary arsenic,a new approach from longitudinal cohort study

Inorganic arsenic is a carcinogen and consumption in low dose may lead to cancer. We estimated the cancer risk of the participants from arsenic endemic regions of West Bengal, India. The probable cancer risk was estimated following the assessment of daily inorganic arsenic intake through drinking water and diets of 20 participants for three consecutive years who had been using low arsenic water in the Indian context (median arsenic concentration in the study Years-I, II and III were 22, 16, 13 µg/l respectively). Probable cancer risk of the population was 2.80 × 10^?4, 2.94 × 10^?4, 3.12 × 10^?4 in the three respective study years (Year-I, II and III); just higher than the US EPA risk level of concern. The arsenic species content of the paired raw, cooked rice and urine was estimated in the as is taken basis. The major diet component, rice contained 72–86% inorganic arsenic whereas urine contains 70% organic arsenic on an average. The cancer risk assessment has been proposed to be modified by inclusion of urine arsenic release, considering the fact of arsenic release through urine. The risk became 1.28 × 10^?5, 1.13 × 10^?5, 1.01 × 10^?5 in the study Year-I, II and III respectively, considering urinary arsenic release, attributed the consideration of urine arsenic release into probable cancer risk estimation.     

Diurnal variation of atmospheric CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentration and δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C in an urban atmosphere during winter—role of the Nocturnal Boundary Layer

The paper presents the importance of the Nocturnal Boundary Layer in driving the diurnal variability of the atmospheric CO₂ mixing ratio and the carbon isotope ratio at ground level from an urban station in India. Our observations are the first of their kind from this region. The atmospheric CO₂ mixing ratio and the carbon isotopic ratio were measured for both the morning (05:30–07:30 IST) and afternoon time (16:00–18:00 IST) air samples at 5 m above ground level in Bangalore city, Karnataka State (12° 58′ N, 77° 38′ E, masl = 920 m) for a 10 day period during the winter of 2008. We observed a change of ~7% the in CO₂ mixing ratio between the morning and afternoon time air samples. A stable isotope analysis of CO₂ from morning samples showed a depletion in the carbon isotope ratio by ~2‰ compared to the afternoon samples. Along with the ground-based measurement of air samples, data of radiosonde measurements were also obtained from the Indian Meteorological Department to identify the vertical atmospheric structure at different time in a day. We proposed the presence or absence of the NBL as a controlling factor for the observed variability in the mixing ratio as well as its isotopic composition. Here we used the Keeling model approach to find out the carbon isotope ratio for the local sources. The local sources have further been characterized as anthropogenic and biological respiration (in %) using a two-component mixing model. We also used a vertical mixing model based on the concept of the mixing of isotopically depleted (carbon isotope) “polluted air” (PA) with isotopically enriched “free atmospheric air” (FA) above. Using this modeling approach, the contribution of FA at ground level is being estimated for both the morning and afternoon time air samples.     

Alteration patterns related to gold mineralization and their relation to CO2/H2O ratios

Summary The pattern of hydrothermal alteration associated with a gold prospect located within a differentiated iron-rich gabbro sill in the Chibougamau region has been investigated in order to establish the alteration mechanism. The gold mineralization, occurring in east-west trending shear zone, shows a close spatial relationship to zones of intense alteration. Ankerite-sericite-pyrite/ankerite-fuchsite-chlorite/ankerite-sericite-chlorite, and chlorite-calcite-magnetite form four distinct alteration facies which extend outward from the mineralized zones. Detailed mineralogical, petrological and chemical studies show that the iron content of chlorite increases whereas the iron content of the carbonate decreases from the mineralized zone outwards. The hydrothermal alteration pattern is shown to be derived from a single fluid with a high initial CO₂/H₂O ratio. At first, reducing reactions prevailed and, with progressive fluid-rock interaction, the CO₂/H₂O ratio was lowered and oxidation reactions dominated.

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Alterationsmuster in beziehung zur goldmineralisation und dem CO₂/H₂O- Verhältnis

Zusammenfassung Hydrothermale Alterationen in Zusammenhang mit einer Goldvererzung eines differenzierten eisenreichen gabbroischen Sills im Chibougamaugebiet wurden untersucht, um den Umwandlungsmechanismus zu ermitteln. Die Goldvererzung in der Ost-West verlaufenden Scherzone ist eng mit Zonen intensiver Alteration verbunden. 4 deutlich unterscheidbare Alterationsfazics, die mit zunehmender Entfernung von der Vererzung auftreten, sind: Ankerit - Serizit - Pyrit/Ankerit - Fuchsit - Chlorit/Ankerit -Serizit - Chlorit und Chlorit - Kalzit - Magnetit. Detailierte mineralogische, petrographische und geochemische Untersuchungen zeigen, daß sich von der Vererzung weg der Eisengehalt im Chlorit, erhöht, gleichzeitig aber in Karbonaten verringert. Die hydrothermale Alteration ist auf eine einzige fluide Phase mit ursprünglich hohem CO₂/ H₂O-Verhältnis zurückzuführen. Vorherrschend waren zunächst reduzierende Reaktionen. Mit zunehmender Wechselwirkung zwischen Fluid und Gestein erniedrigte sich das CO₂/H₂O-Verhältnis und oxidierende Reaktionen nahmen zu.

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With 9 Figures     

Role of the cloud adjustment time scale in simulation of the interannual variability of Indian summer monsoon

The simulation of precipitation in a general circulation model relying on relaxed mass flux cumulus parameterization scheme is sensitive to cloud adjustment time scale (CATS). In this study, the frequency of the dominant intra-seasonal mode and interannual variability of Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) simulated by an atmospheric general circulation model is shown to be sensitive to the CATS. It has been shown that a longer CATS of about 5 h simulates the spatial distribution of the ISMR better. El Niño Southern Oscillation–ISMR relationship is also sensitive to CATS. The equatorial Indian Ocean rainfall and ISMR coupling is sensitive to CATS. Our study suggests that a careful choice of CATS is necessary for adequate simulation of spatial pattern as well as interannual variation of Indian summer monsoon precipitation.     

REVIEW ON LOCAL SCOUR DUE TO JETS

The safety of an apron of the energy dissipator is threatened by the large-scale scour in the downstream of the apron due to the erosive action of a horizontal jet issuing from a sluice opening. Also, large-scale deposition of the scoured sediments due to an impinging jet in a plunging pool type energy dissipator affects the passage of flow adversely in the downstream channels. Owing to the significant practical importance, the problem of local scour due to jets has been studied by many investigators, In this paper, a comprehensive review of the up-to-date investigations on local scour due to horizontal and impinging jets is presented including all possible aspects, such as scouring process, parameters affecting scour, time variation of scour velocity distribution on the apron and within the scour hole, development of boundary layer thickness, bed shear stress, scour estimation formulas and protection works.     

Integrated Use of LANDSAT 8, ALOS-PALSAR,SRTM DEM and Ground GPR Data in Delineating Different Segments of Alluvial Fan System in Mahananda and Tista Rivers,West Bengal,India

In this study, visible near infrared, shortwave infrared spectral bands of Landsat 8 satellite sensor, two polarisation channel of L band ALOS-PALASAR sensor, SRTM-DEM derived digital elevation data were processed to delineate different geomorphic components of alluvial fans of Tista-Mahanada fan complex. We found image composite of independent components, principal components of Landsat 8 bands were effective in delineating proximal and distal fan segments. Fused images of Landsat 8 and ALOS data were used for enhancing incised distributaries and paleochannels. Field data on depositional sequence of fans, were used to substantiate the image based delineation. Topographic breaks along selected longitudinal profiles (identified with the changes in land use and drainage pattern) of digital elevation data were conjugately analysed using Landsat false colour composites. GPR survey along selected transect highlights the vertical dislocation in the recently deposited sequences of alluvial fan regime indicative of post depositional disturbances.     

Comparative analysis on utilisation of linear spectral unmixing and band ratio methods for processing ASTER data to delineate bauxite over a part of Chotonagpur plateau,Jharkhand, India

We have attempted comparative analysis of the utility of linear spectral unmixing (LSU) method and band ratios for delineating bauxite from laterite within the lateritic bauxite provinces of Chotonagpur Plateau, Jharkhand of India. This was attempted based on processing of visible–near infrared (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral bands of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) sensor. In LSU method, spectral features of main constituent minerals of lateritic bauxite are used to decompose the pixel spectra to estimate the relative abundance of bauxite and laterite in each pixel to spatially delineate bauxite within laterite. We have also compared the bauxite map derived using LSU method with bauxite maps of two band ratios in terms of spatial disposition of bauxite. We also have attempted to relate the abundance values of pixels of LSU-based bauxite map with band ratio values of bauxite pixels of two selected bauxite indices.     

Parametric study of factors affecting fluid flow through a fracture

Understanding the flow behavior through fractures is critically important in a wide variety of applications. In many situations, the fluid flow can be highly irregular and non-linear in nature. Numerical simulation can be employed to simulate such conditions which are difficult to replicate in laboratory experiments. Therefore, a parametric study has been conducted on the fluid flow through micro-fracture over a large range of inlet pressure, fluid density, fluid viscosity, temperature, joint roughness coefficient (JRC), and fracture using finite element analysis. Irregular fracture profiles were created using Barton’s joint roughness coefficient. The Navier-Stokes (NS) equation was used to simulate the flow of water in those micro-fractures. The result showed that the fracture, fluid, and ambient conditions have a wide and varied effect on the fluid flow behavior. The interrelationship between these parameters was also studied. The model simulation provided result in the form of velocity and pressure drop profile, which can be used to determine the behavior of flow under different condition. The volumetric flow was calculated for each condition and has been plotted against the corresponding parameter to study the interrelationship.     

Potentials of alternate polarization of Envisat ASAR data in geological mapping — A case study in Kurnool Group of rocks,Andhra Pradesh

The application of SAR data is a proven technology in geological studies but very few accounts are available in India, which can evaluate and demonstrate the utility of microwave signatures as an important tool for geological mapping. In this connection, the significance of polarization is an important parameter in enhancing geological elements. Present study reveals that the simple polarization composite prepared from different polarization channels can significantly aid the delineation of geological features as demonstrated from the Proterozoic metasedimentary sequences of Kurnool Group. The polarization colour composites reveal that different sedimentary units can be differentiated on the basis of variable back scattering return in different polarization channel. Further geological structures of regional importance can also be delineated in these colour composite images. Comparative analysis of different composite images with published geological maps, illustrates the capabilities of the microwave polarization in enhancing geological elements and how they can be used in updating geological data.